Philippine bishops begin prayer vigil to protest deaths in war on drugs

By Catholic News Service

11/07/17

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine bishops' conference started
a prayer vigil to protest thousands of killings in the government drive to
eradicate drug abuse and drug dealing.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, outgoing
president of the conference, led the "Lord, Heal Our Land" Mass Nov.
5. He called for repentance and an end to the killings and warned that
"the journey of healing for the values of our nation turned upside down
will be a long journey still."

In his message at the Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace on EDSA, the
avenue where the 1986 peaceful overthrow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos took
place, Archbishop Villegas said clergy, politicians and security forces needed
to repent for complacency, ambition for power and instilling fear rather than
respect.

"Peace to you in the armed forces and police," he said
in his homily. "Stop the violence and uphold the law."

Archbishop Villegas called on the faithful to pray the rosary
daily until Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Many churches
across the country have been winding down the exercise of tolling bells nightly
to remember those killed.

Philippine National Police reported more than 3,900 suspected
drug dealers and addicts were killed in the 17 months since President Rodrigo
Duterte took office after running on a platform to rid the country of
criminals. They said the suspects resisted arrest.

Rights groups and local media have reported 7,000-12,000 deaths
as a result of police operations and unexplained killings.

Duterte's drug war had strong support, with human rights
advocates and the church as its most vocal critics. But the deaths in August of
three Manila-area teen boys sparked public outrage.

Police tallied 3,000-5,000 protesters who marched against all the
killings following the archbishop's Mass.